Supporting Kazakhstan’s Transition to a Green Economy Model

Jun 8, 2015

The Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Water Resources Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan are jointly organizing a launching event for project “Supporting Kazakhstan’s transition to Green Economy”. This is the first joint EU - UNDP/UNECE cooperation project.

““The joint EU, UNDP and UNECE project “Supporting Kazakhstan’s transition to a green economy model”, supported by the EU with 7,1 million Euros budget, is targeted to bring water governance in Kazakhstan is align with the Green Economy Strategy of the country. I am noting with satisfaction that Kazakhstan is making the leap towards a green economy and showing the way to the entire region. Provision of water in sufficient quality and quantity is a matter of immediate concern to citizen, farmers and industry. I invite all the stakeholders to take full advantage of the initiative and jointly work towards its full success.” – said Ambassador Aurélia Bouchez, Head of the European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan.

“Water in Kazakhstan is a scarce resource and so its use needs to be very efficient. However, another aspect of modernization, which is equally important, is that each household and business has access to water of high quality.”– said Mr. Stephen Tull, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan announced intentions to make its economy more sustainable through the 2013 Concept for Transformation to the Green Economy. The overall objective of the Project is to contribute to the long-term environmental sustainability and inclusive economic development of Kazakhstan through introducing a modern environmental governance system, state-of-the-art water management policies and practices, enhanced environmental impact assessment procedures and economic incentives for sustainable use of water resources.

The Project will contribute to:

· Water governance in line with Green Economy requirements;

· Increased efficiency of water use;

· Establishing a modernized environmental governance system;

· Highly visible and replicable pilot actions, focusing on water resources and climate change, with demonstrable effects at local (region/city/district) level.

The Project is being developed in consultation with key stakeholders, in full alignment with the policy priorities of the Government of Kazakhstan. National ownership is ensured through active participation of national Governmental and non-governmental institutions.

Background

The total amount of the EU funding is 7,1 million EUR. "Water resources in Kazakhstan are not only important natural, but also a strategic resource, which is needed everywhere - in the provision of clean drinking water, and agriculture and industry. Kazakhstan compared with European countries does not have as many water resources, and this makes prudent use of water an even more pressing issue" –said Mr. Bolat Bekniyaz, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.